The Embrace

It's always amazing what one can do with old vines found during a walk in the forest. Of course, there is considerable manipulation of the material before it expresses what you want. The founder of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana, Sofu Teshigahara, said, "Capturing nature means making nature into something of your own....one takes a piece of nature and adds something that was not there. This is what creation in Ikebana means."

Ikebana Scavengers

Ikebana artists are a bit like scavengers, always on the lookout for unusual shapes and textures.




A gnarled old vine from an abandoned vineyard in the Provence is starkly juxtaposed with delicate camellia blossoms.



In this work, rusted iron tractor parts make an excellent support for a fragile cluster of narcissus and calla leaves.



The bark of eucalyptus provides unusual shapes, colors and textures to this creation.

Imagekind Featured Artist of the Week

I am honored and thrilled that I have been chosen by Imagekind as one of the three "Featured Artists of the Week." I hope this increased exposure will entice those not familiar with Ikebana to visit my galleries and experience this Japanese art form which I love so much.

More Irrisistible Irises

An Iris is an Iris is an Iris?

The iris is one of my favorite flowers to work with. I love its sensuous blossoms and pointed buds. Walking through my garden, the white and purple masses of the early-blooming variety of beard irises are a feast for the eyes. But have you ever inhaled their exotic scent? Hmmm!
I never noticed it until I started to work with them.

Meet The Mulberry Man

The Mulberry Man has led quite an interesting life. I created him in Tokyo while studying for my Sensei degree at the Sogetsu School. His appendages are made of mulberry branches and his head is a cocoon. At one point we had silk worms crawling all over our apartment. From Tokyo, Our Friend moved to France, then to Italy and back to France again. Now, thanks to the Internet, he resides in the blogosphere, too.

Order a print of The Mulbery Man

Figuier de Barbarie

This Ikebana was inspired by the Figuier de Barbarie, a cactus which grows on the steep, rocky slopes that surround our village in the south of France.

Originally from Mexico, where they use it to make tequila, the Figuier de Barbarie grows well in the arid climates here, in Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and north Africa. It's prickly to work with but I love its wonderful, comical shapes. It has a yellowish- red fruit which is a local delicacy.

The Sogetsu School of Ikebana

The Sogetsu School of Ikebana shaped Baiko's artistic style. The most avant-garde of the Japanese Ikebana schools was started in 1927 as an answer to one man's intense desire to make Ikebana a vehicle for personal artistic expression. That man was the late Sofu Teshigahara (1900-1977), the first Iemoto, or grand master, of the Sogetsu School and he truly revolutionized the world of Japanese flower arranging.

Teshigahara considered Ikebana to be much more than flower arranging. He believed that Ikebana is Art. He said, "the spirit under which the Sogetsu School was born was to create Ikebana that matches actual life and to create something that deserves the name art." He feared that traditional Ikebana would die out unless it adapted to modern times. To survive, he said, "Ikebana has to be always fresh, vital and dynamic."

Here are some quotes from Teshigahara's diary, Kadensho, The Book of Flowers:

Ikebana is born from the encounter of nature and humans; it is the coming together of nature and human life....a clear example of perfect harmony between man and nature....

Ikebana can be done anywhere by anyone. There are no national or ethnic boundaries. Like flowing water or drifting clouds, Ikebana spreads throughout the world....

Just as musicians express themselves through the language of music, Ikebana artists must use the language of flowers....

Ikebana will fail if its ultimate goal is the imitation of nature---even if the imitation is more or less perfect. One cannot just take a piece of it and try to recreate it. One takes a piece of nature and adds something that was not there. This is what creation in Ikebana means.

In Ikebana, the flowers are imbued with a human meaning. They are no longer the flowers of the meadow or the flower shop...the result is an expression of the Ikebana artist.

Ikebana and Photography

A few years ago a dear friend suggested that my wife Baiko and I team up to produce a website gallery to exhibit her art, known as Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. The result is Zen-Images. We invite you to take a look at our Ikebana galleries as well as a brief history of Ikebana and a short profile of Baiko.

An Ikebana creation is very transient like nature itself. While there are books by Japanese masters containing photographs of their work, no master has offered a collection of Ikebana works as fine art prints for wall decoration. We can because I am a professional photographer and nearly always available to capture and preserve the transience of Baiko's creations.

As both the camera lens and artificial light can distort a composition, I intentionally keep the photography as natural as possible to avoid imposing on the art. Baiko and I have learned to work together so that the essence of her artistic creations can be perfectly captured.

Sogetsu Ikebana by Baiko

Baiko is the Japanese name of artist Astrid Stadt, Ikebana master (Sensei) of the Sogetsu School of Japan. Baiko means plum blossom, a very revered flower in Japan. White to rose in color, the plum blossom appears in early February, a harbinger of spring. The Japanese admire it for its resilience against the cold of winter. Baiko is a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity. Astrid received the name Baiko when the Sogetsu School awarded her the title Sensei. All the prints of her creations are stamped with her Baiko seal.

A Thousand Thanks

We appreciate the many positive comments about Baiko's creations from our fellow artists.


shanghaiwu commented on Ikebana-017:
brilliant baiko, viewing your work has brought morning calm/thankyou

elenamaza says this about Ikebana-017:
This amazing image of ikebana brings to my mind the silhouette of a beautiful geisha opening her kimono, as well as a butterfly unfolding its wings--amazing and lovely!


caroline caux commented on Ikebana-066
I am totally overwhelmed by the beauty of these compositions!
what you do is extremely beautiful, and the meaning behind your work too!


antje-b says this about Ikebana-036:
This is absolutely gorgeous. The delicate nature of the subject is emphasized by beautifully colouring.


Junko Azukawa commented on Ikebana-000
I love your works! beautiful composition…

Stephensfineart says this about Ikebana-000:
What a great sense of space and simplicity this artist has in the images.

GrayeaglePhotography says this about Ikebana-000:
I like what you have done here. It is simple but holds the eye so as to please the heart. Pat

robertamaria says this about Ikebana-000:
Ikebana-000 does it for me. And then some. rma


kbacklundart says this about Ikebana-037:
Great work. I love your gallery. Kevin


eyecontact says this about Ikebana-024:
Love your grasp of positive and negative space. Nice subjects, too.

ve1mos says this about Ikebana-024:
What a perfect arrangement of form and colour!


CorrineBongiovanni says this about Ikebana-061:
I am so impressed with the delicacy of your work!

awoni commented on Ikebana-061:
This is great! I love it! Very fresh, first time I see Ikebanas on Bubble, awesome!


AJCVISIONS says this about Ikebana-025:
PERFECTION!


ursbugg says this about Ikebana-012:
I love them all but I think this one may be my favorite.

coffeetea commented on Ikebana-012:
awesome one. it swirls the universe.

suzeez says this about Ikebana-012:
Very nice. I love the colors.


NIMEX says this about Ikebana-048:
All of Your arrangement are just flat out cool!;)

AJCVISIONS says this about Ikebana-048:
EXCELLENT WORK! I LOVE IT!


1stAngel says this about Ikebana-007:
I adore this, along with all the works here.. So beautiful!


AJCVISIONS says this about Ikebana-019:
Great concept...Photo is a perfect 10


ScottKuehn says this about Ikebana-026:
I like the clean, minimal design of your images. Less is more!


Caprice says this about Ikebana-009:
Gorgeous. So fresh....Your images and the arrangements are so amazing. Delicate, serene, with so many themes. I am amazed by you!
Caprice


Betty Mackey commented on Ikebana-042:
This is a deeply beautiful Ikebana floral arrangement and photograph.


corndontgrow1966 says this about Ikebana-011:
verry nice!!! love it

masjil2000 says this about Ikebana-011:
Nice gallery. I amaze the flower and love it.


BlueSwan says this about Ikebana-006:
Lovely. I love the fact that you used the clear Aalto vase here. Perfect!


CarolineAlphaShots says this about Ikebana-054:
most beautifull

Some General Comments received via Email:

Vincent-Field Photography ...
Your work is absolutely breathtaking.

Ellen Y. Lau
Hello Baiko,
Love, love your work. Very refreshing, new and soothing....
Cheers!
LeLu

Carl Jacobson
Wow, absolutely sublime work. I'm stunned.

Marilyn E Robertson
Very serene and beautiful work. Ikebana is not easy, I know. I admire your abilities.

Matt Hess
Wow your arrangments are more like sculptures. I love the look....Matt Hess

Donald Taylor
Beautiful and powerful work!

Chris Bolmeier
Baiko,
Simply beautiful images.
Chris Bolmeier

EducatedSavage
Your work is just beautiful - absolutely breathtaking!


To order superb fine art giclee prints of Baiko's work, visit our gallery on Imagekind . * Baiko * fine art prints at Imagekind.com